The Trotters arrived in Wales on the back of four wins and a defeat with a battling 1-1 draw on Saturday keeping them in the play-off places with one game left.

"It was a great point for us, I do not think we did enough to win but we showed the quality in the first half to deserve to get something out of the game," Freedman said.

"We defended well in the last quarter after they equalised and it is a fantastic point and it means our fate is still in our own hands.

"If someone had said when I came in here and we were 17th in the league we would have to win the last game to get in the play-offs we would have taken it."

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay received some glowing praise from his managerial counterpart after this season's achievements.

"Malky is a good man and he deserves everything he gets," Freedman added.

"He has done a great job taking the club into the Premier League and I am pleased for him. It is Cardiff's day, it is Malky's day, and we were comfortable coming here and giving them the respect they deserved with a guard of honour."

till I suppose it still gives him at least another year in the job. By the time it comes around , he can always make up another excuse. First it was 3 months , then a year .....Next year ? Whats his excuse with Van Persie ?